Launcher for toy vehicle having variable force means

ABSTRACT

Improvements in a launcher for toy vehicles. An elastic band is engaged at one end with a block slidably mounted in a launch slot in the launcher base. The elastic band runs around a pulley affixed to the launcher base near the forward end of the launch slot. The other end of the elastic band is engaged on one of a series of anchor points spaced on the launcher base to the rear of the forward end of the launch slot. The vehicle to be launched is releasably engaged with the sliding block, which is drawn to the rear and then released to propel the vehicle. To vary the propulsive force the elastic band may be engaged on different anchor points.

United States Patent [1 1 Becker [76] Inventor: Joseph T. Becker, 21 W.674 Glen Valley Dr., Glen Ellyn, 111. 60137 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 391,952

[52] U.S. Cl. 124/17; 46/81; 124/37 [51] F41B 7/00 [58] Field 01 Search124/21, 22, 17, 35 R, 41, 124/1, 7, 37; 46/81, 202, 206

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 372,136 10/1887 Fouts 124/17X 1,827,023 10/1931 Keselefl'.... 124/17 2.056.446 10/1936 Dodge 124/212,860.620 11/1953 Effinger..... 124/21 3.0681112 12/1962 Simpson 46/813,172,233 3/1965 Lent 124/17 X Barker 124/41 X FOR 1N PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS France 124/17 1451 Sept. 16, 1975 OTHER PUBLICATIONS PuckLauncher-Autotransformer AM-1248) The Ealing Corporation Catalogue. p.22.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. BrowneAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Dorsey, Marquart, Windhorst, West & Halladay 57 ABSTRACT Improvements in a launcher for toy vehicles. An elastic bandis engaged at one end with a block slidably mounted in a launch slot inthe launcher base. The elastic band runs around a pulley affixed to thelauncher base near the forward end of the launch slot. The other end ofthe elastic band is engaged on one of a series of anchor points spacedon the launcher base to the rear of the forward end of the launch slot.The vehicle to be launched is releasably engaged with the sliding block,which is drawn to the rear and then released to propel the vehicle. Tovary the propulsive force the elastic band may be engaged on differentanchor points.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LAUNCHER FOR TOY VEHICLE HAVING VARIABLEFORCE MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates toimprovements in launching devices for toy vehicles such as aircraft.

Elastic bands in tension have been used previously to provide propulsiveforce for launching toy vehicles such as toy airplanes. A sliding blockmoving within a slot and restrained in its travel at the launch end ofthe slot has been used to transmit the propulsive force to a toy whichthen releases itself from the sliding block and continues to moveforward through inertiav An example of such art is the Cole patent. US.Pat. No. 2,426,437. entitled Toy.- filed Jan. 22., I945.

Increases in the velocity of the propelled toy vehicle may be achievedby using a thicker elastic band or doubling the band. or by using alonger band which may be drawn back farther. The strength required todraw back the band is a factor to be considered in a toy which may beused by small children. The longer band is advantageous in that itaccelerates the toy vehicle over a greater distance, thus imparting agreater velocity for a given tension in the band. However. use of alonger band has heretofore required a longer launcher. since the bandhas conventionally been anchored forward of the launch slotv Thisincreased length can be an inconvenience.

Launchers heretofore have also allowed the sliding block to travelforward to the point that the elastic band becomes slack. at which timeno propulsive force is being applied. It is more efficient to have theband in tension during the entire launch. but if any tension is retainedin the band when the sliding block is fully forward. a conventionallauncher using a long band may be inconveniently long.

The same shortcomings are of course present if the elastic band actsdirectly on the toy vehicle instead of transmitting the propulsive forcethrough a sliding block.

Furthermore. launchers have heretofore provided no convenient method foradjusting the propulsive force of the launcher other than by varying thelength of the draw. That method is inconvenient in some applications inthat it does not allow the launcher to be set for the various launchforces with a catch which may later be released at the operator'sdiscretion.

SUMMARY It is an object of this invention to provide a launcher whichimparts increased propulsive force to a toy vehicle while being ofshorter overall length than other launchers of similar power.

Another object is to provide a quick and convenient means of adjustingthe propulsive force of an elastic band in a launcher for toy vehicles.

To achieve these objects this launcher incorporates at the end of thelaunching slot a pulley on which runs a single long elastic band. Theband is connected at one end to a block which is free to slide in theslot and which transmits the propulsive force to the toy vehicle. and atthe other end to a fixed anchor point beside the launch slot and to therear of the launching end of the slot. Alternatively the anchor pointmay be spaced vertically from the end of the launch slot. The distancefrom the end of the slot and around the pulley to the anchor point issuch that the elastic band is in tension even when the sliding block isfully forward in the slot. Several spaced anchor points are provided sothat the tension in the elastic band is easily adjustable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view showing atoy airplane in position on the launcher;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway top view of the launcher; and

FIG. 3 is a crosssection of the launcher seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 2,which line is substantially the centerline of the launch slot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 thelauncher includes a base I having a launch slot 2 running substantiallythe length of the base, a sliding block 3 with a catch 4, a releaselever 5. a pulley 6. and a plurality of spaced anchor points 7. In theembodiment shown. the center shaft of the pulley is affixed to the baseso that the pulley rotates about its vertical axis and is located insuch a relationship to the launch slot 2 that the circumference of thepulley is tangential to the launch slot. The anchor points are affixedto the launcher base at varying distances from the pulley to one side ofthe launch slot and preferably to the rear of the end of the launchslot. Alternatively. the pulley may be affixed to the base in such amanner that it rotates about its horizontal axis and is aligned with thelaunch slot. in which case the anchor points may be spaced verticallyrather than hor izontally from the launch slot.

An elastic band 3 is engaged at one end with one anchor point 7.directed around the pulley 6 and engaged at the other end with thesliding block 3.

Spring 9 extends from stud 10 mounted on base I to release lever 5 forthe purpose of holding lever S in engagement with catch 4 of block 3.

To operate the launcher. an appropriate projection on the vehicle to belaunched. such as a toy airplane. is engaged with the forward portion ofthe sliding block 3. which may be provided with an appropriate recess 9for this purpose. The sliding block is then drawn to the rear againstthe tension of the elastic band 8 and the catch 4 is secured behind therelease lever 5. When it is desired to launch the vehicle. the releaselever 5 is moved to the rear against the tension of spring 9 so as tofree the catch 4. and the sliding block 3 is drawn rapidly forward.propelling the vehicle with it. As it reaches the end of the launch slotthe sliding block 3 is stopped by striking the end of the slot. and thevchi cle continues to move forward on its own.

The force with which the vehicle is propelled can be convenientlyadjusted by engaging the end of the clastic band on different anchorpoints as desired. Elastic bands of different length may also besubstituted. prefcrably of such a length that the band remains underslight tension when engaged on the desired anchor point with the slidingblock fully forward. It will be readil seen that by spacing the anchorpoints along the launch slot behind the pulley, it is possible toprovide propulsive force to the vehicle for nearly the full length ofthe launcher. For example. using an elastic band which is 6 inches longwhen slack and which can be ex tended 6 inches. the total length of thelauncher need be little greater than 6 inches because the slack lengthlies alongside the launch slot. whereas if the anchor point were forwardol the launch slot. the launcher would have to be 12 inches long. Thusthe launcher provides greater propulsive force than other launchers of acomparable size and also provides a means of easily adjusting thepropulsive force.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention is shown and describedabove. it is apparent that modifications and changes which do not departfrom the spirit and scope ofthe invention will occur to those skilled inthe art. Consequently it is intended that the invention is to be limitedonly by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy vehicle launcher comprising:

a launcher base having a slot with a front end. a retaining meansproximate to said front end of said slot. and anchor means spaced fromsaid front end of said slot;

a sliding block slid-ably engaged within said slot;

an elastic member elastic for its entire length. said elastic memberhaving one end secured to said sliding block and extending generallyparallel to said slot. over said retaining means and terminating inanother end secured to said anchor means. wherein said anchor meanspermits said other end of said elastic member to be secured at aplurality of points located at varying distances from said front end ofsaid slot and wherein said elastic member is free to move longitudinallywith respect to said retaining means and is in tension for all locationsof said sliding block within said slot; and

trigger means releasably engaging said sliding block at a point spacedfrom said front end of said slot wherein said trigger means includes abell crank pivoted to said launcher base for limited rotation in theplane of said launcher base. said bell crank having a first armreleasably engaging said sliding block and a second arm extending beyondthe periphery of said launcher base and wherein said trigger meansfurther includes a spring member for hiasing said first arm intoengagement with said sliding block.

2. The toy vehicle launcher recited in claim 1 wherein said anchor meanscomprises a plurality of anchor points disposed at varying distancesfrom said front end of said slot.

3. The toy vehicle launcher recited in claim I wherein said retainingmeans is a pulley,

1. A toy vehicle launcher comprising: a launcher base having a slot witha front end, a retaining means proximate to said front end of said slot,and anchor means spaced from said front end of said slot; a slidingblock slidably engaged within said slot; an elastic member elastic forits entire length, said elastic member having one end secured to saidsliding block and extending generally parallel to said slot, over saidretaining means and terminating in another end secured to said anchormeans, wherein said anchor means permits said other end of said elasticmember to be secured at a plurality of points located at varyingdistances from said front end of said slot, and wherein said elasticmember is free to move longitudinally with respect to said retainingmeans and is in tension for all locations of said sliding block withinsaid slot; and trigger means releasably engaging said sliding block at apoint spaced from said front end of said slot wherein said trigger meansincludes a bell crank pivoted to said launcher base for limited rotationin the plane of said launcher base, said bell crank having a first armreleasably engaging said sliding block and a second arm extending beyondthe periphery of said launcher base and wherein said trigger meansfurther includes a spring member for biasing said first arm intoengagement with said sliding block.
 2. The toy vehicle launcher recitedin claim 1 wherein said anchor means comprises a plurality of anchorpoints disposed at varying distances from said front end of said slot.3. The toy vehicle launcher recited in claim 1 wherein said retainingmeans is a pulley.